Photographic-film-developing apparatus.



W. C. UHL.

PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM DEVELOPING APPARATUS,

APPLlCATlON FILED SEPT. 20, 1915.

1,178,278. I Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO., WASHINGTON, D. C.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. UHL, F GARY, INDIANA.

PH(1TOGRAPHIC-FILM-DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

Application filed September 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VViLLIAM 0. URL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gary, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic-Film- Developing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for developing protographic films, and its object is to provide a novel and improved means for carrying the film through the developing fluid whereby the developing process may be easily and quickly carried out, without employing a dark room.

The object stated is attained by means of a combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which I Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus with the lid thereof removed; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus, and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing an arrangement for developing films composed of separate sheets.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 denotes an ordinary wooden or other box provided with a removable lid 6. The box contains a removable partition 7 dividing the same into two compartments Sand 9, respectively. The partition is slidably mounted in grooves 10 in opposite walls of the box. v I I In the compartment 8 is located a pan or tank 11 containing the developing fluid 12, and in the compartment 9 is located a shelf 13, the same being mounted on the end wall of the box This shelf has a slot let near its forward edge, the same being for a purpose to be presently described.

On that side of the partition 7 which faces the compartment 8 are mounted bracket arms 15 which support a reel shaft 16 on which the film roll 17 is wound. This shaft is located above the pan 11 adjacent to one end thereof, and adjacent to the same end of the pan, and also above the same is mounted a reel composed of shaft 18 and end disks 19. Adjacent to the opposite end of the pan, and above the same, is mounted a reel composed of a shaft 20 and end disks 21. I

In the pan 11, adjacent to the ends thereof are guide rollers or spools 22 and 23, respectively, each comprising a shaft having Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Apr. 4, 1916.

Serial No. 51,622.

end disks. These guide rollers are journaled in the side walls of the pan and they extend across the pan at such a depth that they are immersed in the developing fluid 12.

The reel shafts l8 and 20 are journaled in the side walls of the box 5 and have crank handles 24 and 25 on the outside of the latter.

Onthe reel shafts 18 and 20 are fastened the ends of a film carrier composed of a wide flexible band 26, having attached, to one side, adjacent to its edges, film spacing strips 27. The carrier is adapted to be wound on one reel as it is unwound from the other. The spacing strips are flexible so that they wind and unwind with the band.

In operation, the carrier band 26 is made fast at one end and Wound on the reel shaft 18, and its other end is made fast to the reel shaft 20. The band passes down from the reel shaft 18 into the pan 11 and beneath the guide roller 22, andthen extends forward through the pan to the guide roller 23, from which latter it passes upward out of the pan to the reel shaft 20. That portion of the band which travels between the guide rollers 22 and 23 is therefore immersed in the de veloping fluid 12 in the pan. With the band in this position, the end of the film 17 wound on the shaft 16, is made fast to the band between the reel shaft 18 and the guide roller 22, by means of paper clips or other suitable devices 28, the attachment being made to that side of the band which has the strips 27, the latter being for the purpose of spacing the sensitized face of the film from the band and also for holding the convolutions of film spaced apart on the reel 20. Upon turning the reel 20, by means of the crank handle 25, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, the band is wound off the reel 18 and onto the reel 20, carrying the film through the developing fluid 12 and winding it with the band on the reel 20. The crank handle 24: is provided for winding the band back on the reel 18.

For flat or separate films 29, the partition 7 is removed and the reel 18 is hung below and adjacent to the forward edge of the shelf 13 as shown in Fig. 3, the shelf supportinga box 30 containing the undeveloped films. The films are drawn out from the end of the box and after being passed through the slot 14 they are fastened, one after the other, to the carrier band 26 as before. Above the guide roller 22 and above the pan 11, is mounted a guide roller 31 to enable the band to clear the top of the pan.

The band passes from the reel 18 to the guide roller 31, and then down to and under the guide roller 22, from which latter it passes across the guide roller 23 and to the reel 20 as before. The crank handle 25 being turned as before, the band is wound off the reel 18 and on the reel 20, carrying the films through the developing fluid 12and Winding the same on the reels 20 with the band.

By the apparatus herein described it is possible. to develop films in, the open sunlight, and a dark room is not necessary.

I claim 1. A photographic developing apparatus, comprising an inclosure, a pan in theinclosure containing the developing fluid, guide rollers in the pan adjacent to theends thereof andimmersed in the developingfluid, reels mounted above the pan adjacent tothe ends thereof, a flexible film-carrying band secured toits ends to the reels and. adapted to be wound off one reelonto the other, .that

closure containing the developing fluid, guide rollers in the pan adjacent to the ends-thereof-and immersed in the developing fluid, reelsv mounted above the pan adjacent" to the ends thereof, a flexible film-carrying band secured at its ends to the reels and adapted to be wound off one reel onto i the other, that portion of the band which is between the reels passing into the pan and under the guide rollers therein, a film-supporting member mounted adjacent to one of the reels, and means on the band for spacing the faceof. the film therefrom.

' 3.,Aphotographic developing apparatus, comprising an inclosure, a pan in the inclosure containing the developing fluid, guide rollers in the pan adjacent to the ends there of: and immersed in. the developing fluid, reels mounted above the pan adjacent to the endsthereof, aflexible film-carrying band secured at its ends to the reels and adapted to be Wound .ott one reel onto the other, that portionof theband which is between the-reels passing into. the pan and under the 1 guide rollers therein, a film-supporting member mounted adjacent to one, of the reels, and film-spacing; stripson one side of the band adjacent to the edges thereof.

In testimony whereof I- affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM C. UHL.

Copies of thispatentmay be obtained for five cents each, by. addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

